VIREOS. 



327 



consist of a series of guttural gurgles, squeaky vhistles, and shrill pipes, 

 some of which might be attributed to the creaking weather vanes he 

 so often chooses as a perch. 



Family ViREONiDiE. Vireos. 



The Virecs, nuinlwring about flfty species, are peculiar to America, 

 most of them being contined to Central and South Anu-rica. Some 

 fifteen species, all belonging to the genus Vireo, reach the United 

 States. 



Vireos are for tlie most part arboreal, though several species haunt 

 the lower, ratlier than the higher growth. For small, insect-eating 

 birds they are rather slow in their movements. We do not see them 

 darting out after insects as do the Flycatchers, nor do they Hit through 

 the foliage after the manner of many WaH)lers, but patiently glean 

 their food froni the under surfaces of leaves, crevices in the bark, etc. 

 They are more musicul than tiie small Warblers; all our species have 

 pleasing songs, and some of them are especially gifted. 



KKY TO TIIK 81'K«IKS. 



A. Witli distinct wliite or yt'llowish white \vinf,'-l)iir9. 



a. Eyc-rinjj, or line from eye to l)i!l, yi-llow. "■ 

 o*. Throat and l)reiv«l bri<,'lit yellow ; rump ffray. 



()'js. VEi.i.ow-TiiiifiATEi) Vireo. 

 a'. Under jvirts white or whitish ; sides uikI sometimes breast washed 

 with jjreenish yellow; rump olive-^'reen. 



tJ-'U. WlllTK-KVKO ViKKO. CTlfl. IvKV WesT VlKEO. 



b. Eye-ring and line from eye to hill white. 

 i>. Head lead-blue ; \\\ng over \i-'t(>. 



(i2lt. Bi.i E-iiEAi)Ki> ViKEo. C20a. Mointain Vireo. 

 b*. Head grayish, nearly like back; wing under •_'•')<). 



G;>:>. Hell's Vireo (HlinoiH). 



B. Without white wiiiir -bars. 



a. Under parts yellowish ; first primary as long as fifth. 



((•JtJ. Piin.AnELriiiA Vibeo. 



b. Under parts white ; /(/(/(.< washeil svith yellowish; iirst primary Tr) long. 



»5*J7. Wauiu.ino Vireo. 

 e. Under parts white, with little if any yellowisli on siiles ; liiad with a 

 lead-gray eap. bonlered by narrow l)laek lines ovtT the eye. 



(J'Jl. Ked-eveh Viueo. <iJ.'{. Ri.At K-wnisKEHED Vfreo. 



623. Vireo calidris barbatulus (r,i>).). nLA<'K-wiiisKKREt) 

 ViiiEo. .If/.- Similar to the next spi'iies, but somewhat vluller above and 

 with a fuscous streak on either side of the throat. 



Ji'aiiife. — <\il)a, P>aliamas, and southern Florida; southward to Central 

 America in winter. 



Nest, pensile, of dry gras.sc8, shreds of i)ark, cotton, lieliens, and spiders' 

 web, lined with soil, cottoulike tibcrs, 8U8i)eudcd from u forked branch, five 



